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| Biosphere Reserve Information | ||||
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BIG BEND |
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| General Description |
Big Bend Biosphere Reserve and National Park, situated in the big bend of the Rio Grande in western Texas, represents one of three biosphere reserves in the Chihuahuan Desert (among Jornada Biosphere Reserve in USA and Mapimí Biosphere Reserve in Mexico). The vegetation zones in Big Bend are mainly determined by elevation (533 – 2,388 meters above sea level), comprising mainly shrub deserts and grasslands as well as some woodlands and riverine vegetation. All three biosphere reserves are located in areas traditionally dominated by a livestock raising economy. Today, they face a variety of resource management issues relating to sustainable development in desert ecosystems. Problems are associated with grazing of livestock, air pollution, and water quality, poaching of plants and animals, and loss of habitats. The Big Bend Biosphere Reserve is largely a protected core area managed for conservation, public education, and recreation use. One of the major programs in the Big Bend Biosphere Reserve is maintaining the area’s remarkable biodiversity, exemplified by some 58 endangered, threatened, and listed species and the occurrence of over 430 species of birds. A growing tourism industry is developing around Big Bend National Park. In nominating three biosphere reserves in the Chihuahuan Desert it was expected that cooperation would develop the knowledge and skills needed to manage the ecosystems of the Chihuahuan Desert for conservation and sustainable economic uses. Today, mainly research and environmental education projects characterize this cooperation. |
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| Major ecosystem type | Warm desert | |||
| Major habitats & land cover types | ||||
| Location | 29°30'N, 102°103'E | |||
| Area (hectares) | ||||
| Total | 283,247 | |||
| Core area(s) | ||||
| Buffer zone(s) | ||||
| Transition area(s) when given | ||||
| Altitude (metres above sea level) | +533 to +2,388 | |||
| Year designated | 1976 | |||
| Administrative authorities | Big Bend National Park National Park Service | |||
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| Brief description |
Inventory of resources River use along Rio Grande Hydrological cycle Reptiles Geomorphology Water quality and flow Paleontology |
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| Specific variables... | ||||
| Abiotic | Geomorphology, hydrology. | |||
| Biodiversity | Natural resources, reptiles. | |||
| Socio-economic | Anthropological studies/Anthropology, resource use. | |||
| Integrated monitoring | n.a. | |||
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| Contact address |
Frank J. Deckert P.O. Box 129, Big Bend National Park 79834 Texas United States of America |
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| Telephone | (1.915) 477 2251 ext. 101 | |||
| Fax | (1.915) 477 2357 | |||
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BiBe_Superintendent@nps.gov |
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| Web site | www.nps.gov/bibe | |||
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| Last updated: 2/28/2002 |
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